Intermission, a new bar and eatery with unmistakable theatrical flair, has opened on Boundary Street in West End — and it’s already drawing a crowd well beyond the theatre set. The venue is the latest project from Strut & Fret, the creative company behind The West End Electric, and sits right next door to their Brisbane theatre space at 125 Boundary Street.
The concept grew out of necessity as much as ambition. When the street-facing tenancy beside The West End Electric sat vacant for roughly six months after its previous occupant — a fried chicken shop — shut up, Strut & Fret director Scott Maidment and his team decided to take it on themselves. Given the company’s background producing large-scale festival events and running cocktail bars as part of those experiences, it wasn’t a stretch. What emerged is a venue designed to wrap around an entire evening rather than anchor it.
The fit-out, led by long-time Strut & Fret collaborator and production designer James Browne, draws on the atmosphere of London’s theatre district and the casual glamour of Parisian bistros and supper clubs. A hand-laid gold flake floor anchors the space, offset by dark timber panelling, soft white drapes and an eclectic mix of vintage furnishings and theatre posters. A discreet connecting door links Intermission directly to The West End Electric, offering ticketholders a seamless move from bar stool to theatre seat.
The drinks list leans into the showtime theme. Signature cocktails include the Choc Top Martini, Popcorn Sour and Malt-Pleaser, alongside aperitifs from Dave Verheul’s Saison range, rotating tap beers and a focused wine list that spans champagne to orange and natural wines. For later in the evening, a broad tequila selection and a picklebacks menu are on offer.
Food draws from Spanish and French traditions, with sharing-style plates designed for grazing rather than a sit-down commitment. The charcuterie selection includes wagyu bresaola, prosciutto, mortadella, smoked pepperoni and sopressa, sliced to order. Elsewhere on the menu: tinned fish with focaccia, Yarra Valley Caviar with potato pavé, gildas, empanadas, truffle-cheese toasties and sliders.
Since opening, the venue has settled into a rhythm that mirrors the flow of Boundary Street itself — early afternoon drop-ins, pre-theatre arrivals, post-show debrief sessions and late-night stragglers coming out of nearby restaurants. Word is already getting around; the team has even spotted filmmaker Baz Luhrmann stopping by.
For Maidment, the neighbourhood context is central to what Intermission is trying to be. He describes West End as still one of Brisbane’s most colourful and distinctive suburbs, and sees both the theatre next door and the street life outside the windows as part of the venue’s character.
The name says it all, really. Intermission isn’t trying to be the destination — it’s the pause in the middle, a place to reset between whatever came before and whatever comes next.
Intermission is located at 125 Boundary Street, West End.
